Feat Proposals: Defensive Shot, Threatening Shot

[Magus Coeruleus]

Comments?

DEFENSIVE SHOT [General]
You keep your guard up when you fire projectiles at point blank range.
Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, BAB +4
Benefit: You may accept a -2 penalty to attacks with a projectile weapon in order not to provoke attacks of opportunity for firing from within a threatened space. You still do not threaten an area when using a projectile weapon.
Normal: Firing a projectile weapon within a threatened area provokes an attack of opportunity.

THREATENING SHOT [General]
A bow in your hands is a serious threat to all around you.
Prerequisites: Point Blank Shot, Defensive Shot, BAB +6
Benefit: You do not suffer a -2 penalty to attacks with a projectile weapon when using Defensive Shot. Furthermore, if your projectile weapon is loaded, you threaten opponents within 5'. Bows and slings are generally assumed to be loaded whenever they are wielded and there is sufficient ammunition, since reloading them is a free action. Since reloading a crossbow is a move-equivalent action, however, you only threaten an area with it if you have a bolt loaded.
Normal: Projectile weapons do not threaten an area.

 

[Crothian]

The first one is fine. THe second one should be divided into two feats, one that gets rid of the penalty, and one that allows ranged weapons to threaten. Threatening a space with a ranged weapon is a powerful ability.

 

[Vaxalon]

I don't understand the mechanics...

How is it that someone threatens ONLY five feet around them? Why can they only take advantage of lapses of defense only within five feet?

 

[Magus Coeruleus]

Crothian: I can see the threatening ability being big enough on its own, but do you think that a feat that just removes the -2 penalty does enough?

Vaxalon: Two reasons I was thinking of. 1) Game balance. Shouldn't threaten more than a standard melee weapon would (i.e. 5'). 2) Precision. There are certain mechanics that limit effects to 30' with ranged attacks (like Point Blank Shot feat, sneak attacks), so there is precedent for a range limit. I think it's reasonable to think that being able to take an AoO requires a truly point blank range (i.e. adjacent), not just 30'. Think of it as being able to swing around and point the arrowhead right up against someone's throat if they make a bad move. Perhaps even more feats could be taken to extend this range--10' wouldn't be too bad since there are melee weapons that can do that, and you can always have a high BAB prerequisite.

 

[Crothian]

Crothian: I can see the threatening ability being big enough on its own, but do you think that a feat that just removes the -2 penalty does enough?

Well, removing the -2 might not seem like a lot, but it means that ever attack does not provoke an AoO. With the -2 you have a choice to make, fire at -2, or risk the AoO.

 

[Rackhir]

Given that it is a class ability for Order of the Bow Initiate and an Epic level feat to get that ability (without the -2 penalty). I don't really see the point of the first feat.

The second has a similar problem in that it's a class ability for Master of the Order of the Bow (epic prestige class).

Basically, given that they are both rated essentially as either class or epic abilities, I don't think they belong as separate feats or at least as non-epic feats.